Turkey Wing Shell

The shell of Arca zebra is boldly striped in brown & white giving it a resemblance of a wing of a wild turkey. The whole shell (when both valves are together) has also been likened to Noah's Ark. It is a sturdy shell growing up to 4" long and 2" wide. The umbones are separated by a shallow depression, and the hinge is long & straight with about 50 small teeth. There is coarse sculpturing fanning out from the umbones. The inside of the shell is whitish or pale mauve. This species is found along the Atlantic coast of North America, from North Carolina to the West Indies & Bermuda. It attaches itself to rocks or other hard substrates in shallow water.